Automatic window regulator



May 2, 1933.

E. L. ACKERMAN AUTOMATIC WINDOW- REGULATOR Filed May 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR TW/JWZ flame w ATTORNEY.

' May 2, 1933. E. 1.. ACKERMAN 1,907,027

AUTOMATI C WINDOW REGULATOR Filed May 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A? INVENTOR. [flaw/Pal flzmw/m/v A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES EDWARD L. ACKERMAN, OF DETROIT,

FEZZE LIiTCQFFTGRATED, OF DETEO' AUTOMATIC WINDO /V Application filed May 13,

This invention relates to clutch mechanism for use in conjunction with a window regulator mechanism particularly of that character in which the sash may be lowered man- 5 ually and locked in predetermined position whereby the sash may be moved automatically at will toward the closed position in the frame. In previous art, the window regulator mechanism is manually operable on both opening and closing movement by means of the handle through operation of a lever and my improved clutch mechanism is particularly applicable in conjunction with a regulator mechanism in which a spring is utilized in conjunction with the regulator arm of a tension suliicient to raise the sash in its frame and in which the same may be manually moved downward by means of a handhold and locked in position by my imziio proved clutch device.

The principal feature of the invention resides in the provision of a coiled spring and an expandible drum therewithin which, by a control element,may be expanded to cause 115 frictional contact between the drum and the spring or release the spring to permit movement of the regulator arm by its spring and further to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive structure having this func- 30 tional relationship of parts.

The preferred form of construction of a clutch mechanism embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation indicating a window frame and glass movable to open or close the opening therein and showing the general relationship of my improved clutch and a window operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the window operating mechanism on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the control mechanism taken substantially along lines 44 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. 4 showing the mechanism in locked position.

'F GAN, ASSIGNOR T ACKEEMAN-BLAESSER- IVZEGIZIGAIF, J11 CGRPORATIGIE CF MICHIGAN REGULATOR 1929. Serial No. 362,556.

Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the released position of the parts.

Flg. 8 1s a perspective v1ew of part of the clutch casing.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of one of the a window having a frame provided with an 1 opening 1 and its upper end with a glass 2 slidable in the side members 3, 3 to open or close the opening and it is to be understood that the lower part 4 of the frame is formed with a recess or pocket into which the glass or sash is movable, the dotted lines indicating the lower portion of the glass 2 in the recess and the opening in the window frame partially closed by the glass.

The regulating or sash operating mechanism is shown generally by the dotted lines 6 in Fig. 1 as mounted upon a cross bar at the upper end of the sash pocket indicated by the dotted lines 7. The regulator mechanism consists of a plate 8 shown clearly in Fig. 2 having the apertures 9 for screws or like elements to fasten the plate to the cross bar 7 of the window frame. This plate 8 is mounted on the sash side of the cross bar 7 and the control mechanism, which is mounted in the casing 10 secured to the plate 8, projects through the inner face of the door, as shown in full lines 33 in Fig. 1, to the interior of the vehicle body or structure with which the regulator is utilized. Thus, the regulator or sash engaging arm 11 is with in the sash recess and within the plane of the inner face of the cross bar 7 The plate 8 at its lower end has a rotatable pin or shaft 12 mounted therein to which the arm 11 is secured to turn therewith. The arm is provided with a gear segment 13 as a part thereof as is hereinafter described. On the opposite face of the plate 8 from that 00- cupied by the regulator arm and gear segment is a toothed member, such for instance as the gear 14, having a fixed pin 15 therein provided with a slot in which the outer end of a spiral coiled spring 16, the inner end of the coil being secured in a slot in the end of the rotatable shaft 12. The slotted pin 15 is so positioned on the gear 14 as to cause the turns of the spiral spring 16 to spread out of surface contact.

Between the coiled spring and the plate 8 and rotatable on the shaft 12 is a gear 14 and this gear is provided with a series of apertures 17 circumferentially arranged adjacent the periphery and a screw 18 is provided extending through one of these apertures into a threaded aperture provided in the plate 8 therebehind. The screw thus holds the gear 14 from rotation and the spring under a predetermined tension.

The device is arranged to permit an adjustment of the tension of the spring, the purpose being to provide such spring tension as will of itself move the regulator arm and consequently move the sash 2 upwardly to close the opening in the frame 3 and, as the sash in one installation may move more readily than that in another, means is provided to a just the tension of the spring in each installation. For this purpose I have provided an aperture 19 at the lower end of the plate 8 in close association with and spaced from the periphery of the gear 14. I have provided an adjusting mechanism consisting of a crank 20, a gear segment 21 thereon and a projecting pin 22. This pin may be inserted in the aperture 19 with the teeth of the gear 21 meshing with those of the gear 14. Thereupon, the screw 18 may be removed, the crank 20 turned to increase or decrease the tension of the spring bringing some other one of the apertures 17 to registration with the screw aperture in the plate 8 and the screw 18 then inserted which will maintain the spring at the predetermined tension required for the particular installation.

In order to move the sash downward against the tension of this spring a metal clip, such for instance as is suggested at 23 in Fig. 1, may be provided on the upper edge of the sash 2 which provides a finger or handhold by which the sash may be moved downward in the frame.

To control this sash in its adjusted position and prevent movement thereof through action of the spring 16 upon release of the handhold I provide a control mechanism which is mounted in the casing 10 shown in Fig. 2 and illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive. This control device does not provide a means to directly operate the regulator arm as the regulator arm is moved either by pulling down on the sash by the handhold 23 or by the spring 16 which tends to move the arm and consequently the sash upwardly.

The control device therefore is in the nature of a lock element necessary to be set previous to the release of the window upon moving it downward to a predetermined position and, if it is desired to close the opening, the

control device is merely released from the locked position which permits the spring to turn the arm and raise the sash. This control device consists of an outer casing or shell 24 secured to the plate 8 as by rivets 25 positioned about a lateral flange on the shell 24 contacting the plate 8. This shell has an inturned portion 26 formed with a central rectangular aperture 27 and four extensions 90, 91, 92, 93 as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the purpose of which is explained hereinafter.

A cap 28 is positioned over this shell and has a central extension 29 of slightly greater diameter than the length of a diagonal line of the rectangular aperture 27 and terminates in an outturned bearing portion 30 for a shaft 31. This shaft at its outer end is provided with a knurled portion 32 on which is secured a handle 33. This shaft has a central enlarged portion 34 oval in form in cross section as w ll be understood from Figs. 6 and 7 and also has an extension 35 supported in a bearing in a bracket 36 attached to the rear face of the plate 8 and spaced therefrom as shown. On this extension 35 is rotatably mounted a gear member 37 meshing with the gear segment 13 on the regulator arm. The plate 8 is apertured and a hub 38 of the gear extends through this aperture and adjacent this hub portion the gear is provided with a toothed portion 39 provided to receive the base plate of the spring engaging element 40 which has fingers 41, 42 and 43 extending into the chamber within the casing 24 parallel with the axis of the shaft. This base plate of the spring engaging element is toothed as at 44 to engage the toothed portion 39 of the gear hub. The two parts on being assembled in the toothed relation stated the teeth of the gear are peened over the interposed teeth 44 of the said base plate retaining the parts in assembled relationship. The spring 45 is a coiled spring having outturned ends 46 and 47 as is hereinafter described. This spring acts as a friction or brake band and is mounted on a collapsible drum which preferably is formed of two half parts 48 and 49 positioned on the shaft and oval portion 34 thereof.

The two half parts of the drum are substantially identical in form, the spring engaging portion 50 thereof lying practically wholly within the chamber formed in the casing 24 and has a rib or collar 51 formed thereon against which one end of the coil seats when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 4, the other end of the coil seating against the base of the spring engaging element 40. The inner end of the portion 50 of each of the drum halves also practically engages the base of the element a wnile the face of the collar 52 opposite that engaged by the end of the spring practically engages the end portion 26 of the casing This holds the drum from materiai longitudinal movement sufiicient latitude being provided to permit functioning of the parts. Outwardly from the collar portion 51 each half part of the drum is provided with a projection 53 substantially triangular in form and having a shaft contacting face Each of theseparts has a stepped portion of greater length of side and, with the two parts assembled as shown in Fig. at, these portions 55 of the two half drum parts form a complete rectangle the longer portion 53 extend ing outwardly toward the handle end of th structure and through the aperture 27 in the portion 26 of the casing between the extension 90, 91, 92, 93 and into the part 29 of the cap provided for this purpose. The extreme end of the portions 53 practically engage the cap 29 at one end and these stepped portions indicated by the greater length of the side wall 55 together form a recess 60 when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. on diametrically opposite sides of the shaft 31.

A pin 61 is provided extending through the shaft to opposite sides thereof and into these recesses 60, 60 on opposite sides as previously stated and the side walls of these recesses formed by the edges 62 of the end portions 53 provide stops against which the projecting ends of the pin 61 engage on the turning of the handle member and shaft 31 and thus limiting the possible extent of revolution of the shaft to an arc of about ninety de rees. It is to be noted that the rectangle formed by the portions 55 is positioned in the rectangular aperture 27 and between the extensions 90, 91, 92 and 93 forming the sides of a rectangle. The distance between opposite extensions is somewhat greater than a side of the rectangle formed by the portions 55 of the drum parts permitting said drum parts to be separated but also holding the drum from rotation,

From the foregoing description of the structural relationship of the parts it is to be noted that the gear member 37, which is in mesh with the gear segment 13 of the regulat-or arm, is revolvable on the shaft and has fixedly attached thereto the spring engaging element illustrated in Fig. 9 with the fingers thereof extending over the collapsible drum and that the collapsible drum, which is preferably formed of two separable half parts, forms a shell having an oval aperture or recess therein in which the oval portion or expander 34 on the shaft is positioned as shown for instance in Fig. 7. This figure also shows the spring on the drum ha ing the outturned end portions a6 and 47, the end 47 lying against the edge of the finger a3 and the end 46 lying between the fingers 41 and 42.

The outer surface of the drum parts 48 and d9 when in closed relation shown in Fig. 7 form a true circle of a diameter slightly less than the normal diameter of the spring 45 and when the parts are in the relationship shown in Fig. 7, the window may be moved downwardly manually by means of the handheld and thus move the regulator arm and segment thereon. This rotates the gear 37 and the spring engaging fingers which are free to turn as the spring is not tightly in contact with the collapsed drum. Therefore, there is no frictional resistance by this spring to rotation about the drum. If it be desired to lock t is window at any point of movement the handle 33 attached to the shaft 31 and the drum actuator 34; is turned to the position shown in Fig. 6 bringing the portion of greatest diameter of the oval expander element 3 f toward the shortest diameter of the oval aperture of the drum parts. This separates the drum parts to frictional contact with the spring and rotation of the spring engaging fingers and consequently the gear 3? is prevented and the regulator arm held from movement by reason of its gear segment being in mesh with the gear. This expansion of the drum to binding engagement with the spring is caused by operation of the lever through an arc of less than ninety degrees although provision is made for a practically ninety degree movement. Vhen the parts are new, however, the drum will be expanded sufficiently on less travel of the operating lever. The arrangement provides for long life of the structure as it will remain operative until the parts are so worn as to permit revolution of the drum 34 in the drum. As the parts may be hardened wear is reduced to a minimum.

With the window depressed and the actuator spring 16 therefor tending to move the window upwardly, all that is necessary to relocate the glass or sash member 2 in the window opening is to release the expander by movement from the position shown in Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrow toward the position shown in Fig. 7. Thus, movement releases the spring 45 from frictional engagement with the drum whereupon the window actuating spring 16 begins to move the window upwardly and this movement may be checked at any desired point by movement of the handle to turn the expander toward the position shown in Fig. 6.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the device is simple in construction and operation providing for automatic movement of the window in one direction and the locking of it at any point. This prevents movement of the sash downwardly by hand from the set position and thus prevents the opening of an automobile from the exterior by unauthorized persons. Thus, with a mechanism of as simple construction as is usual in devices of this character, I am enabled by the general arrangement of the parts described to secure an automatic operation from a full open to any predetermined point it may be desired to move the sash or glass toward the closed position. In fact all the desirable features of the present day window regulator mechanism are secured by the arrangement described including moderate cost in construction and erection and in addition thereto a novel regulator structure adapted to automatically close the window from any open position in which the sash may be manually set.

Having thus described 111% invention what I claim and desire to secure y Letters fatent of the United States is- 1. A clutch mechanism for window regulators including an arm by which a sash is moved in a frame and by means of which the arm may be locked in position to prevent downward movement of the sash including a gear segment connected with the arm, a gear meshing therewith, a coiled spring, an expandible drum therewithin, the said gear engaging the spring and rotating the same on the drum when contracted and itself being held from rotation by the spring when the drum is expanded to frictional engagement therewith.

2. In a clutch mechanism for use with a window regulator in which an arm is utilized to slide a sash in its frame, comprising a drum formed of separable parts, a friction band rotatable thereon when the drum is collapsed, means for expandin the drum parts to frictional contact with the band to hold the same from rotation, a rotatable element in driving contact with the band and including a gear, and a gear segment meshing therewith and connected with the arm whereby when the gear is held from rotation through frictional engagement between the band and the drum the arm is locked in position and when the drum is collapsed the arm is free to move.

3. In a clutch mechanism for a window regulator in which an arm is utilized to slide a sash in its frame by pressure continuously applied tending to cause the arm to raise the sash, a rotatable gear operatively connected with the arm, a friction band, a drum therefor about which the band may rotate, means on the gear in engagement with the band whereby rotation of the gear may rotate the band and when the band is held from rotation, the gear is likewise held and the arm prevented from movement, and means operable at will for expanding the drum to frictional contact with the band to hold the same from rotation.

4. In a device of the character described, a

housing, a shaft therein, a gear rotatably mounted on the shaft at one end, an operating means for the said shaft at the opposite end, said shaft having a central enlarged portion oval in form in cross section, a twopart drum on the said enlarged portion, the two parts being oval in interior form to fit the enlarged portion when in one position and to be separated thereby when turned to another position whereby the drum parts may be collapsed or expanded, a coiled spring on the drum having outturned ends, means connected with the gear and engaging the spring ends whereb the pressure tending to rotate the gear ten s to rotate the spring on the drum, the rotative position of the enlarged portion of the shaft providing a means to permit the spring to rotate or to lock the same from rotation and thereby hold the gear from movement through pressure applied thereto.

5. In a device of the character described, a housing, a shaft extending therethrough, a gear rotatably mounted upon one end of the shaft and operating means therefor at the opposite end, said shaft having a central enlarged portion out-of-round in cross section, an expandible drum consisting of several parts and enclosing the enlarged portion of the shaft, the said drum parts together having an interior form to fit the enlarged shaft portion when in one position and caused to be expanded by the turning of the said enlarged part relative thereto, means for holding the drum parts from rotation, a spiral coiled spring on the exterior of the drum parts, means connected with the gear and arranged to engage the spring element to rotate the same through rotation of the gear when the drum is collapsed and held from rotation by the spring when the drum is expanded to frictional engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

EDWARD L. ACKER'MAN. 

